selling car with diff backlash

[paceman2]

I have recently sold my Ford Au2 xr6 ute. It has minor diff back lash which is only noticeable after 1 hour of driving and when you brake suddenly. It is only a thud and hardly anything. The guy took it for a test drive and didn't notice it and I have taken to 2 mechanics and a diff specialist and all three have told me it is nothing to worry about. Should I let the new owner know or let him find out for himself?

[robbyj]

Its a bit late now, however if i was him and still had your number id be ringing to ask if you knew about anything when i find the 'thud'

[paceman2]

True he has'nt picked it up yet but i better tell him. Everyone else says not to worry but it's doing my head in.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by paceman2

I have recently sold my Ford Au2 xr6 ute. It has minor diff back lash which is only noticeable after 1 hour of driving and when you brake suddenly. It is only a thud and hardly anything. The guy took it for a test drive and didn't notice it and I have taken to 2 mechanics and a diff specialist and all three have told me it is nothing to worry about. Should I let the new owner know or let him find out for himself?

I'd say its buyer beware.....You're not obligated to tell him and he presumably had plenty of opportunity to check the car over before making you an offer.

Three diff specialists have said the car's OK, so you can sleep at night knowing you sold him a trouble free vehicle

[paceman2]

Well the 2 mechanics and diff specialist have all told me that the diff will continue on for 10 years like that and that it is completely normal.

[madmelon]

I can't believe you're so worried about 1 thud every so often! Every manual AU XR8 I test drove (at least 6) did it every time you touched or came off the throttle, as did the one I bought and have since put 25,000km on...

Consider yourself lucky that it's as minor as it is!

[paceman2]

Very true. He got a good deal and the car is in top nick.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by madmelon

Consider yourself lucky that it's as minor as it is!

Yep because the manual B series XR8's/GT's are notorious for it

[paceman2]

I just bought a Bf Xr6 and I should just wait for the diff back lash to start on it from what I can read.

[LowEL2XR8]

You need to tell him. If its something that might make him change his mind and you know about it your legally required to tell him.
I was a juror on such a case.

[Scott]

I always try to educate buyers of my things as to what has gone wrong, what has been fixed and what I would do if I was keeping the car.

No need to lie, no need to tell stories, be straight up and let the buyer make the decision based on the facts you give him. It will never cost you a sale that you will regret.

When the car leaves, wipe your hands of it.

[TK-421]

Ask yourself this, would you want to be told of the backlash if you were buying your car?

[JC]

It's a private sale, so it's buyer beware. Diff backlash on manual falcons is "normal" according to ford, so I wouldn't bother. If you're really worried about it, put some LSD gear oil in it with the friction modifier and that should shut it up for ages.

[GK]

Originally Posted by GTP006

I always try to educate buyers of my things as to what has gone wrong, what has been fixed and what I would do if I was keeping the car.

No need to lie, no need to tell stories, be straight up and let the buyer make the decision based on the facts you give him. It will never cost you a sale that you will regret.

Originally Posted by IntechAU

Ask yourself this, would you want to be told of the backlash if you were buying your car?

Absolutely. Treat others as you'd want to be treated.

I want to buy my next car off one of you blokes!

GK

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by LowEL2XR8

You need to tell him. If its something that might make him change his mind and you know about it your legally required to tell him.
I was a juror on such a case.

You dont have to tell a potential buyer anything about the car.
The only thing your legally obliged to inform a potential owner is if its been previously Written Off - other than that, you can stand there silent and not say a word.
No warranties are implied and the vehicle is always sold "as is, where is, with any and all faults known and unknown to the buyer"

[GK]

Originally Posted by davway

You dont have to tell a potential buyer anything about the car.
The only thing your legally obliged to inform a potential owner is if its been previously Written Off - other than that, you can stand there silent and not say a word.
No warranties are implied and the vehicle is always sold "as is, where is, with any and all faults known and unknown to the buyer"

Whilst this may be true and perfectly legal, I'd argue that it's hardly ethical.

The golden rule sums it up nicely I reckon.

GK

[Day-mow]

treat others how you want to be treated i guess.
when i brought my XR6 i was told all sorts of things but none of them have been true (i believe) in the end its just cased me to have to fix more stuff that i didn't know about. i loved the car so i brought it anyway.
i think when i part ways with it i'll tell the truth and not a creative story.

[Mr Hardware]

Wait on - isn't that why you sell cars? To get rid of problems?
When I go buying cars I expect the seller either is so incompetent they wouldn't know how to properly use the demister or they are a complete trickster and won't tell me a word of truth.
Basically, it is completely normal to omit or simply not know facts about your car when selling it.

If the buyer doesn't get it mechanically inspected, its his own bloody fault.

[paceman2]

Well I rang him, told him the issue with the diff, dropped the price accordingly, he appreciated the honest truth and has had issues with diffs before so understood the dilema. I must say that most people I have spoken to have told me not to tell him, just wipe your hands free as he drives up the road. I couldn't live with myself, knowing that I treated him like a mushroom, kept in the dark and feed b$%^&*t

[GT0132]

I admire your ethical nature. Should be more people like you in the world.

Rep points awarded

[Mr Hardware]

how much did you let it go for, OP?

[paceman2]

i took 600 off 4 diff, so 7 grand for the car.

[Mr Hardware]

Oh ok, sounds like the buyer got a steal, considering the cheapest one on carsales with 250k on the clock and not even a manual is going for $9k

[paceman2]

yes but they are not selling, he has been trying to sell it for a month now. I just wanted to get rid of it. The longer I kept the car the more money it was costing me. I think people are often dreaming about how much money their car is worth. Considering I was only going to get 4 grand for trade in 7 minus 1 in repairs isn't to bad.